← New search

2015 Honda Civic

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Civic years

Owner complaints for the 2015 Honda Civic are substantially higher than the model-year median of 183.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

200 reports with mileage · 180 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 176 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

37 crash reports2 fire reports18 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

58 reports
Clear category filter
1 miles · Dec 3, 2018
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

ABOUT 15 SECONDS ENTERING THE FREEWAY I DECIDED TO MERGE. AS I ACCELERATED I HEARD SOMETHING POP OR LIKE A CLUNK/THUMP SOUND, LIKE SOMETHING HAD SHIFTED, THEN MY CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. THEN WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS MY RPM WAS MOVING BUT MY CAUSE WAS NOT. GOOD THING I WAS STILL ON THE FAR RIGHT HAND SIDE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL T…

Read full complaint

ABOUT 15 SECONDS ENTERING THE FREEWAY I DECIDED TO MERGE. AS I ACCELERATED I HEARD SOMETHING POP OR LIKE A CLUNK/THUMP SOUND, LIKE SOMETHING HAD SHIFTED, THEN MY CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. THEN WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS MY RPM WAS MOVING BUT MY CAUSE WAS NOT. GOOD THING I WAS STILL ON THE FAR RIGHT HAND SIDE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT CAUSING ANY ACCIDENTS. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF THEN BACK ON. ENGINE WAS FINE, IT STARTED BUT I MY CAR WASN'T MOVING WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS ON DRIVE. I TRIED TO REVERSE MY CAR BUT IT MOVED VERY LITTLE AS WELL. SOUNDS LIKE MY PROBLEM REFLECTS THE RECALL ON 2014-2015 HONDA CIVIC CARS REGARDING ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION, ALTHOUGH A RECALL DOESN'T SHOW WHEN TYPING MY VIN.

NHTSA ODI #11155636

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2018
Unknown Or Other

I THINK THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT MAKING THE CHANGES CORRECTLY

NHTSA ODI #11151757

60,000 miles · Jan 22, 2018
Latches/locks/linkagesUnknown Or Other

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK OPENED INADVERTENTLY ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (PRICE HONDA, 4567 S DUPONT HWY, DOVER, DE 19901), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEA…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK OPENED INADVERTENTLY ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (PRICE HONDA, 4567 S DUPONT HWY, DOVER, DE 19901), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #11064110

37,700 miles · Dec 17, 2017
Unknown Or Other

DRIVING NORMALLY WHEN A SUDDEN & VERY LOUD BANG/CRACK WAS HEARD AND I IMMEDIATELY FELT SMALL GLASS BITS FALLING ON ME. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND SAW THAT THE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED UPWARDS TOWARDS THE SKY WITH A LARGE HOLE IN THE CENTER AND A MUCH SMALLER HOLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING WESTBOUND ON E N…

Read full complaint

DRIVING NORMALLY WHEN A SUDDEN & VERY LOUD BANG/CRACK WAS HEARD AND I IMMEDIATELY FELT SMALL GLASS BITS FALLING ON ME. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND SAW THAT THE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED UPWARDS TOWARDS THE SKY WITH A LARGE HOLE IN THE CENTER AND A MUCH SMALLER HOLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING WESTBOUND ON E NORTHWEST HWY BETWEEN TOWN NORTH DR & ABRAMS RD (DALLAS, TX 75231). NO OBJECTS FOUND IN THE CAR THAT WOULD IMPLY A FOREIGN OBJECT HITTING THE VEHICLE. NO BRIDGES WERE DRIVEN UNDER WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED.

NHTSA ODI #11055159

34,000 miles · Oct 9, 2017
Unknown Or Other

VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. CAR WILL TURN ON POWER BUT NOT THE ENGINE. IT WILL MAKE A FLICKER SOUND THEN SHOW ALL CHECK SIGNS ON DASH BOARD. THIS HAVE TWICE ALREADY. SOMETIME IT WILL NOT EVEN START OR POWER ON THE VEHICLE. THIS WILL OCCUR THE ENTIRE DAY BU T THE NEXT DAY ITS TOTALLY FINE. ALL CHECK LIGHTS GO AWAY AND CAR STARTS NORMA…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. CAR WILL TURN ON POWER BUT NOT THE ENGINE. IT WILL MAKE A FLICKER SOUND THEN SHOW ALL CHECK SIGNS ON DASH BOARD. THIS HAVE TWICE ALREADY. SOMETIME IT WILL NOT EVEN START OR POWER ON THE VEHICLE. THIS WILL OCCUR THE ENTIRE DAY BU T THE NEXT DAY ITS TOTALLY FINE. ALL CHECK LIGHTS GO AWAY AND CAR STARTS NORMAL.

NHTSA ODI #11032591

39,000 miles · Sep 7, 2017
Unknown Or Other

WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT A CONSTANT SPEED, THE MOONROOF GLASS RANDOMLY EXPLODED. NO ROCKS OR FOREIGN OBJECT STRUCK THE GLASS, IT WAS A SPONTANEOUS EVENT.

NHTSA ODI #11022230

7,400 miles · May 27, 2017
Unknown Or Other

REAR VIEW CAMERA HAS VERY POOR IMAGE. IT IS TOO DARK TO BE RELIABLE AS A SAFETY FEATURE. CAMERA IS SO BAD IT COULD ACTUALLY PRESENT A HAZARD IF YOU RELY ON IT. ONLINE FORUMS CONFIRM THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT.

NHTSA ODI #10991892

1,000 miles · Nov 3, 2016
Unknown Or OtherCrash

MY MOTHER LEASES A HONDA CIVIC 2015 AND WAS PARKING THE CAR AT A SLOW SPEED , FOOT ON BREAK THE ENGINE SURGED AND THE CAR SPED FORWARD. THE CAR HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I RESTARTED THE CAR TO BACK IT UP --AS SOON AS I PUT IT IN REVERSE (WITH MY FOOT COVERI…

Read full complaint

MY MOTHER LEASES A HONDA CIVIC 2015 AND WAS PARKING THE CAR AT A SLOW SPEED , FOOT ON BREAK THE ENGINE SURGED AND THE CAR SPED FORWARD. THE CAR HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I RESTARTED THE CAR TO BACK IT UP --AS SOON AS I PUT IT IN REVERSE (WITH MY FOOT COVERING THE BREAK) IT SURGED AGAIN AND THE CAR SPED BACKWARDS. I FILED A CASE WITH HONDA AMERICA 05128777 - THEY INSPECTED THE CAR AND SAY THEY CAN NOT FIND ANY REASON FOR THIS. I AM POSTING THIS BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY FRIGHTENING AND I DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE.

NHTSA ODI #10924012

14,000 miles · May 18, 2016
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

I REPORTED DURING THE LAST OIL CHANGE THAT THE CAR WAS STALLING SPECIFICALLY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE BETWEEN 10 MPH & 30 MPH. THE CAR STALLS, AND HAS EVEN COMPLETELY STOPPED FOR A FULL 60 SECONDS WHILE TRYING TO CHANGE LANES IN TRAFFIC EVEN THOUGH THE GAS PEDAL WAS COMPLETED DEPRESSED. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDEN…

Read full complaint

I REPORTED DURING THE LAST OIL CHANGE THAT THE CAR WAS STALLING SPECIFICALLY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE BETWEEN 10 MPH & 30 MPH. THE CAR STALLS, AND HAS EVEN COMPLETELY STOPPED FOR A FULL 60 SECONDS WHILE TRYING TO CHANGE LANES IN TRAFFIC EVEN THOUGH THE GAS PEDAL WAS COMPLETED DEPRESSED. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THE TECH SAID IT WAS DUE TO THE ECON BUTTON AND THE ENGINE TRYING TO CONSERVE ENERGY. I WAS TOLD TO NOT USE THE ECON BUTTON (ALTHOUGH THIS IS SUPPOSE TO SAVE ME MONEY ON GAS AND FUEL EFFICIENCY AND PART OF THE ALLURE OF THE VEHICLE.) DESPITE THAT I HAVE HAD THE ECON BUTTON OFF AND THE CAR CONTINUES TO STALL AND NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. AGAIN THIS IS USUALLY BETWEEN 10 MPG TO 30 MPH. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OR PART OF THE PISTOL PIN SNAP RING PROBLEM OR EVEN POSSIBLY A FUEL INJECTOR PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE GETTING WORSE AND OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY. MY HUSBAND HAS THE SAME TYPE AND YEAR VEHICLE AND HIS DOES NOT BEHAVE THE SAME WAY. HIS ACCELERATION APPEARS TO BE FINE AND DOES NOT STALL AS MINE DOES. ALSO THE TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE HAS COME ON TWICE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ONCE WAS 8-15-15 DURING A 4 HOUR ROAD TRIP WHICH OCCURRED AFTER WE ARRIVED. THE 2ND TIME WAS IMMEDIATELY AFTER I RETURNED HOME FROM MY LAST OIL CHANGE IN 4-2016. THIS IS THE (3RD) REPORTED PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. PROBLEM (1) WAS THE STAINED HEADLINER (6/2015)WHICH WAS REPLACED AND HAS NOT HAD ANY FURTHER ISSUES (2) WAS THE CENTER CONSOLE PIN COMING LOOSE AND POPPING UP (4-2016) WHICH HAS CURRENTLY REMAINED INTACT AND NOW THE ACCELERATION IS GETTING WORSE. (CONTINUOUSLY).

NHTSA ODI #10865714

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2016
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

STICKING DRIVE BY WIRE THROTTLE BODY SYSTEM , WHEN SHIFTING CLUTCH IS NOT RELEASING RIGHT OR TO THE VEHICLE SPECS ON THE VEHICLE AND ENGINE VIBRATION WHEN IDLING. WHEN STARTING TO DRIVE , VEHICLE ENGINE VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING ON NORMAL ROAD AN HIGHWAY TOO.

NHTSA ODI #10849564

Official recalls

1

15V574000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Sep 15, 2015

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Civic vehicles manufactured January 16, 2014, to November 6, 2014 and 2015 Fit vehicles manufactured March 12, 2014, to May 12, 2015. The software settings that control the transmission operation may result in damage to the transmission drive pulley shaft.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the transmission drive pulley shaft is damaged, it may break, and the vehicle may lose acceleration or the front wheels may lock up while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the transmission, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin October 30, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JU2 (Civic) and JU3(Fit).

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA21002 · Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

EA19001 · Electrical Overstress

Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.  During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications.  The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU.  In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment.  FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle.  Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW.  These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes.  An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time.   In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU.  This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners.  Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation.  The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage.  There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation.  The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU.  If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC.  Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC.  All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled.  In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024.  With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.

Go deeper into Honda Civic problems